Invent: Life Sciences

In Season 3 of Invent: Life Sciences, we explored the forces redefining how tomorrow’s therapies will be developed, made, and delivered. From the challenges of scaling cell and gene therapy manufacturing to the transformative power of sustainability and AI, this season uncovered what it truly takes to move from discovery to delivery.

Featuring insights from leaders across Novartis, Cellular Origins, Orchard Therapeutics, Charles River, Cytiva, OmniaBio, Eli Lilly, and more,  this season revealed how the biotech industry must evolve to make breakthrough therapies accessible, affordable, and ready for global deployment.

In our last episode, we explored the manufacturing strategies that will be key to scaling advanced therapies. Now, we turn our focus to the UK, where new regulatory frameworks and regional collaboration are changing how therapies reach patients.

Stuart speaks with leading experts about the evolution of regulation, the role of the MHRA, and why decentralized manufacturing could unlock faster, more flexible access to treatments. He also hears how Cambridge is preparing to become a regional hub for manufacturing, and what this shift could mean for patients across the East of England and beyond. Together, these perspectives reveal how regulation, clinical insight, and patient needs are converging to shape the next chapter of cell and gene therapy in the UK.

Guests:

• Jacqueline Barry, Chief Clinical Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
• Sarah Albon, Director, Cambridge Cellular Therapy Laboratory at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Manufacturing can make or break the future of cell and gene therapy. In this episode, Stuart sits down with two expert guests to share how smart design, automation, and closed systems are helping to lower costs, reduce complexity, and make therapies more accessible. From scaling strategies to operator-friendly technology, they reveal why manufacturing isn’t just a back-end process, but a critical part of therapy development from day one.

Guests:

• Professor Mark Lowdell, CSO InMune Bio Inc
• Luc Henry, Founder and CEO at Limula 

In this two-part series, host Stuart Lowe examines the barriers and breakthroughs that will determine whether cell and gene therapies can scale. From smarter manufacturing to new policy frameworks, join leading experts as they discuss what must change for CGTs to deliver on their full potential.

In this episode, Stuart explores the adoption of generative AI in the pharmaceutical industry, with a special focus on cell and gene therapy. While the application of AI for drug discovery has been well documented and a source of considerable investment for the pharmaceutical sector, we are only just starting to see its impact for therapy developers. A 2024 report from McKinsey Global Institute estimates that generative AI could generate up to $100 billion in economic value for pharma and medical product companies, and therapy developers are eager to see these benefits sooner rather than later, no more so than in the complex and challenging field of cell and gene therapies. With the help of two expert guests, Stuart will uncover how AI is being used in the industry today, and where it could go in the future. 

Guests:

• Ken Harris, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of AI at OmniaBio
• Sean Bedingfield, PhD, Senior Advisor at Eli Lilly Genetic Medicine

In this episode, host Stuart explores what the sustainability goals of Big Pharma mean for those organisations, and the companies that support them. With insights from Ryan Walker, Sustainability Program Leader at Cytiva, and Wenshu Xu, Drug Discovery Tools Team Lead at TTP, we review the progress made by the industry so far and some examples where innovative thinking has had an impact on operations. Topics include the challenge of tackling Scope 3 emissions, reducing the impact of single-use plastics, and how collaboration across the ecosystem is key to meeting ambitious sustainability targets.

Guests:

• Ryan Walker, Sustainability Program Leader, Cytiva
• Wenshu Xu, Drug Discovery Tools Team Lead, TTP

In this two-part series, host Stuart Lowe examines two factors testing the resilience of the biopharma industry. As society simultaneously navigates a green transition alongside an AI revolution, so the biopharma industry faces mounting pressure to address its carbon emissions, deploy cutting-edge digital technology, while streamlining operations. Along with his guests, discover the innovative approaches that are being taken to transform drug development and manufacturing.

In Part One of this two-part series, we reflected on the progress made in the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) industry and the importance of patient-centric development. In this episode, we dive into how we can continue to move forward, broaden access, and encourage the development of new treatments. We’ll discuss the critical need to scale manufacturing, even in the early stages of development, to ensure that these therapies reach the patients who need them.

Guests:

• Emma Chan, Director of Technical Development at Orchard Therapeutics
• Matt Hewitt, Chief Technical Officer at the Manufacturing Business Division at Charles River Laboratories

The Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) industry has made remarkable strides, with significant advancements and the approval of groundbreaking technologies in recent years. However, have we become too dependent on older methods, and are we doing enough to ensure these new therapies are reaching as many patients as possible? In this episode, we tackle these questions while exploring one fundamental issue: Why? Why is it essential to continue innovating to broaden patient access, develop new therapies, and push the industry forward?

Guests:

• Tay Salimullah, Chief Access Commercial Officer at Novartis
• Jason Jones, Global Business Development Lead at Cellular Origins

Welcome back to Invent: Life Sciences, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

With approvals for advanced therapies on the rise, and aspirations to target larger patient populations, it’s time to take stock and reflect and on the progress made to date. In this series, we’ll be looking at the people, processes and partnerships we’ll need to continue moving forwards and delivering the best outcomes for the greatest number of patients.

Over the forthcoming two episodes, I’ll be joined by 4 expert guests to answer two fundamental questions: why do we need to continue to innovate, and how can we do it.